Program Overview

Introduction to the Fitness and Wellness Leadership Program

The Fitness and Wellness Leadership program at Plattsburgh State University of New York is an extensive interdisciplinary program that provides strong content knowledge, hands-on personal training experience, as well as business, management, and clinical rotations. This program prepares students for a wide variety of fitness and wellness careers, including personal training, fitness management, and health professions.

What Will I Learn?

The program offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes:

• Strong content knowledge in fitness and wellness
• Hands-on personal training experience
• Business, management, and clinical rotations
• Preparation for certification as a personal trainer or health/fitness instructor
• Opportunities for research and presentation at regional and national conferences

Concentrations

The program offers four concentrations that allow students to tailor their experience based on their professional goals:

Fitness Management Concentration

• Prepares students for management roles in the fitness and wellness industry
• Includes preparation for the ACSM personal trainer certification
• Covers topics such as business administration, fitness management, and marketing

Allied Health Science Concentration

• Prepares students for graduate school in allied health sciences, such as physical therapy or chiropractic care
• Includes coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, and statistics

Athletic Training Concentration

• Prepares students for graduate school in athletic training
• Includes coursework in prevention and care of athletic injuries, assessment and therapeutic rehabilitation, and psychology

Sports Nutrition Concentration

• Combines fitness and nutrition coursework
• Prepares students for careers in sports nutrition or related fields
• Does not prepare students to become registered dietitians

Curriculum

The program requires a minimum of 120 credits, including:

• Major departmental requirements (47-56 credits)
• Concentration requirements (15-23 credits)
• Cognate requirements (22-25 credits)
• Additional degree requirements, such as completion of all undergraduate degree requirements and a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 in all required major courses

Major Departmental Requirements

• FIT 201: CPR/AED/First Aid
• FIT 210: Introduction to Fitness & Wellness Leadership Major
• FIT 212: Introduction to Personal Fitness Training
• FIT 305: Exploring Sport and Exercise Psychology
• FIT 319: Analyzing Human Movement
• FIT 333: Exercise Physiology
• FIT 334: Kinesiology
• FIT 336: Fitness Programming
• FIT 337: Group Fitness Programming
• FIT 338: Supplemental and Ergogenic Aids
• FIT 401: Fitness Field Experience I
• FIT 402: Fitness Field Experience II
• FIT 410: Fitness Management (AWR)

Concentration Requirements

• Fitness Management Concentration: 21 credits, including ACC 201, ECO 101, MKE 290, MKE 321, FIT 214, and PED 318
• Allied Health Science Concentration: 22-23 credits, including BIO 102, BIO 300 or higher, CHE 112, MAT 161, and PHY 103 or PHY 111
• Athletic Training Concentration: 15 credits, including FIT 271, FIT 335, FIT 340, FIT 341, and PSY 101
• Sports Nutrition Concentration: 16 credits, including FNI 241, FNI 301, FNI 340, FIT 271, and PSY 101

Cognate Requirements

• BIO 101: General Biology I
• BIO 326: Human Anatomy & Physiology I
• BIO 327: Human Anatomy and Physiology II
• CLG 402: Introduction to Counseling Techniques
• CHE 101 or CHE 111: General Chemistry or Fundamental Principles of Chemistry I

Additional Degree Requirements

• Completion of all undergraduate degree requirements
• A minimum overall GPA of 2.5 in all required major courses
• Completion of a capstone course, FIT 410: Fitness Management (AWR)
• Completion of two fitness field experiences, FIT 401 and FIT 402

Career Opportunities

The program prepares students for a wide range of career opportunities, including:

• Hospital wellness centers
• Medically-based fitness facilities
• Sports performance facilities
• Public and privately owned health clubs
• Corporate fitness centers
• Colleges and universities
• YMCAs and JCCs
• Recreational and athletic sites

Research Opportunities

Students may participate in research under the guidance of a faculty member and present their research at regional and national conferences, including the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) conference.

Complementary Minors

Several complementary minors are available, including business, marketing, nutrition, athletic coaching, and personal training. These minors require only a few additional classes and can enhance career potential.